Writing prompt #13 : Language

lead and first image: screenshot of one of my lessons in Romanian from Duolingo

We're all writers here on this platform. Even those who only read and comment on articles write out their comments.

We all use language to convey our message, our thoughts, our feelings, our imagination.

Some of us understand, speak, read, and write in more than one language. Some of us may not hear or speak at all and must use hand gestures to sign their message.

There are many types of language. Not all of them are verbal, written, gestured, or official.

Body language

Body language can emphasize or enhance or belie the spoken words.

Some one can say, "I'm very happy!" But when they are frowning with their arms akimbo or crossed over their chest, when they are having down with their backs curled we understand they are not happy. They are angry or very sad. They may be afraid.

Their body language tells us much more accurately their true emotions.

Love language

Love language is a term often used in psychology. It means how people demonstrate their love without having to constantly day the words "I love you."

I will cook to demonstrate my love. I also give hugs. And make eye contact and physical contact often. My love language is a care giving language. Some people call it nurturing or mothering.

Cooking (and feeding you) is my way of letting you know how much I love you. I take great pride in my ability to cook delicious food. And if I love you, I share it with you.

My husband's love language is as a provider and a builder. We moved here to this little ranch when his grandparents died.

They had gotten too old to keep up with the chores and house. Our house was not even completely finished. There was no ceiling in the kitchen, pantry, bedroom, and bathroom. The master bedroom had holes in the floor and the walls. The kitchen sink was much too short for me to comfortable wash dishes.

My husband has built me a fairy princess castle. He measured and built the kitchen sink cabinet to my height. He fixed the floor and the walls in the master bedroom. We have 2 huge closets. He put in a ceiling, and rewired all the electrical so I can have a drive and a microwave and a refrigerator, believer, and crock pot all going at the same time.

He remodeled the little bathroom and walled off the big bathroom so it is now the master bath and can only be accessed through my bedroom. He plumbed it with a bathtub that belongs to just me.

He converted one of the back houses that was used as a chicken coop into an art studio just for me.

He built us a deck in the neck so we can sit outside and watch the sunrise.

This is his love language.

My mother's love language is spending or giving money.

Can you think of another kind of love language?

Passive aggressive language

I'm not sure what to call this language. It is the opposite of love language. It is the unspoken language that demonstrates, often quite loudly, displeasure and anger.

Slamming doors, angry cleaning, stomping, muttering inaudibly under ones breath, sighing. Everyone knows something is wrong, but most likely none knows exactly what the problem is.

Those who passive aggressively express themselves often do not use words so the rest of the world is left to guess.

Animal language

Anyone who has spent time around animals knows they communicate quite well with humans. I may not speak goat, but I know when my girls are happy, tired, in pain, annoyed, or sick. Sometimes it's in how they hold their heads or move their ears. Sometimes it's obvious when they are leaping around playing.

I know exactly how my cat is feeling when she meows, purs, growls, nips, scratches, or bites.

My dogs can tell me when they are happy (most of the time), hungry (also most of the time), scared, or feel protective or guilty. Angus is terrified of thunder and refuses to go outside of it is raining. He's also terrified of the cat who communicates in no uncertain terms, "I will fuck you up, dog."

Self talk

Self talk is another kind of language.

We hear that little voice in our heads. Sometimes the little voice is a big, angry, critical voice. It calls us names like stupid and idiot.

Sometimes our self talk is positive and helpful. "I got this." or "I am enough."

Because of how I was raised, my self talk teens toward the critical. It's hard to silence that inner critic. It takes a lot of practice. It also takes an awareness of our self talk language.

How do you talk to yourself?

I have to argue with my inner critic by sometimes talking back to that voice in my head. I say things out loud so I'm not just saying them, I'm also hearing them.

"You are enough!" is one phrase I say a lot. Also, "You DO enough."

My faithful readers already know I feel ashamed of I'm not publishing every day or don't get the prompt out when I said I would.

Learning

I chose this prompt because I'm in the process of learning a new spoken language.

I'm learning Romanian on Duolingo.

If you have Duolingo, come follow me and we can learn our languages together.

My profile picture is my cat.

The process of learning most things, but especially languages, is fun for me. When I practice the language every day, I easily learn it.

As with everything I strive for perfection.

Perfection isn't necessarily the best thing for which to drive when in comes to languages. I've learned good enough is often preferable to perfect. Not just for language. Good enough is preferable for parenting, too.

I've had to learn my family's love language and I'm learning my own passive aggressive language as well as how to counter my negative self talk.

Animal language comes to me by instinct. But I've been around animals since the day I was born.

We had cats, and fish, and a sheep who lived in the house when I was a baby. As I got older we had dogs and hampters and a rabbit. I had a pet spider when I was 5 or so and another when I was a teen. I have my mom a snake for Christmas one year. So she raised nice to feed the snake. My family farm in Kansas always had cows (dairy farm) and horses. As an adult I lived with a family who has parrots. one of whom feel in love with me and would try to mate various parts of my body b feets, hand, or face. Since I moved to Texas, I've had cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, and turkeys, ducks, and a llama.

Of course I always learn everything I can about every animal under my care, but they seem to be able to communicate with me just fine even before we get to know each other.

I've learned, but not mastered, American Sign Language (ASL) because a friend of mine is partially deaf.

I learned a lot about body language when I was majoring in psychology at college.

So many kinds of language. So much learning.

This week's writing prompt is Language.

What is your native language? How many languages do you speak, understand, read, or write?

Are you interested in learning other kinds of language? Why or why not?

The rules are simple.

1. Write anything about language

2. Write 100% original content

3. Write at least 600 words so Rusty will reward you

4. Submit to the PromptlyJonica community (please join us if you haven't already)

5. Tag me @JonicaBradley and @TengoLoTodo

6. Have fun!

A few quick notes:

• Join the PromptlyJonica community here.

• There are no deadlines or time limits. You can write on any of the prompts any time for ever and ever. To see a list of linked prompts in order go here.

• It's up to the writer to ensure no plagiarism

• Please keep Regis testimony and religion to a minimum. Those types of stories are better suited to dietitian communities.

• All types of writing are permitted: personal essay, poetry, satire, fiction, etc. Keep in mind is you're writing satire, make fun of the idea, not the person.

• The community has more than one moderator. If you disagree with anything the mods have to say, please let us know in the comments of the article.

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